Between rounds 1 and 2

The samurai paused on the dirt path and looked up into the sky, squinting against the sun. Afternoon. Bright blue skies stretching endlessly into the distance. Grass and sometimes giant mushroom under it. And two days since he had slept last. Less than that since parting with Aris and Leela. Spitfire girls... They could take care of themselves. Had shown that in battle again that copy.

Sam...

He really needed to find the girl. Why would someone want a child to fight in a tournament? Even one as nonsensical as this. Readjusting the pack on his back, he carried on. The man knew where he was heading. Off to the castle. The noble class of this world must have some of the answers he needed. The rabbit, despite the questioning Aru put him through, had little to say. Drakonius had hinted at some outside influence on Wonderland and the nothings. So Aru headed off toward the Village. The... crocodile... alligator... whatever... barkeeper had said it would be a short journey and-

The samurai stopped in his tracks, planting his foot solidly on the ground. A good stance, well balanced. If the enemy... Aru pivoted quickly, drawing out the bar that would change to his sword.

Yet again, as he had so many times in the past, he came face-to-face with Drakonius. "Hiya!" The Lord of Darkness greeted happily, waving. Backing off, Aru grumbled.

"It's been a whole hour since I last saw you. What was oh so important that you had to go?" Wait a minute. Why was he asking? Aru disliked the man. Annoying, in your face and touchy feely. Having a sexual preference for females - mainly his wife - Aru disliked the close proximity of another male. Getting to the point, Aru asked, "What do you want? I'm already doing your damn side-quest, as you like to call them."

Drakonius wrapped an arm around Aru's shoulders and pulled the man close. Speaking in a whisper, though no one was around, he said, "Well, I was just wondering if you would like to take a quick trip to the castle."

"Whaat?!" Aru pushed at Drakonius. "What the hell is your problem? You couldn't have told me earlier and saved me the trouble of walking?!" Of course not. That was not how Drakonius worked. Nope. He had to dance in circles around Aru, leaving the man in the dark.

"Well," Drakonius started, weaving his fingers together and sitting back on the air. "There are some... restrictions to it." As much as Drakonius hated to admit it, he couldn't interfere as much as he would have liked. He was like a spectator and could be punished if he interfered too much. It had happened once before on a different world with different people for one whole week. It was not an experience he would like to repeat. So he would give his servant some incentive outside of 'I command it.'

"You have limited time. Right in the castle. Get your look around. Once the time is up, you're right back here." Before Aru could agree, he was gone. Drakonius as well. There was a slight breeze, picking up the dirt and swirling it around the empty pathway like waves and rustling the leaves of a nearby tree.

~*~

Erika was a maid now. It was part of her debt. Work for the king, pay off her life. New uniform, the school one dumped for a more official looking one. Hair was combed over to hide the eye. Disgusting, horrid and malformed. It was unusable. Sometimes noises startled her, making her jump and reach for her grappling hook.

It was a horrid thing as well. Scary and sharp. But... she needed a weapon. Needed something to defend herself with. It still didn't make her feel better about having it tucked into her skirt.

Right now she was armed with a feather duster. And the scariest enemy was the dust collecting on the bookshelves. So she went through a study, dusting carefully over books, statues, and knickknacks. Finishing with the room, she opened the door to the hall... and almost tripped over something.

"Hey!" She yelled at no one. Great. People left their things out in the hall. She wasn't their... o wait. She was. Grumbling, she took a look at what was sprawled in the hall. "A-Aru?!" She gasped, turning the man over.

The man was used to being teleported by Drakonius. Yet... this time it seemed to have knocked him out. And once out, he was out. After a couple minutes of shaking proved futile, she sighed and picked him up. Her room was not far off...

And there. Aru's trench coat and pack were hung neatly over a chair and he was tucked into bed. The man mumbled something rolling to his left where Alice always slept. Erika sighed, and left to continue her chores.

~*~

Two days... Erika looked at the man, hot breakfast in her hands getting cold. For two days he lay there, the only sign of life the rising and falling of his chest and the change of facial expressions while he slumbered. Sighing, the girl placed the dish on a side table and leaned in on Aru to inspect him. He didn't seem sick or anything. Should she call a doctor or something?

The man was sleeping. He didn't hear Erika cry out. Didn't think about the squirming. All he knew was that he was holding Alice. Erika wiggled, face turning beet red. He had just reached out, brushed her hand and struck, pulling her into a tight hug. And then-! Erika squeaked and struggled when Aru nuzzled her neck. In his mind's eye, he saw Alice, pictured what they must have looked like from above when she was snuggled in his arms and they were both waking up.

And he slowly woke up, recognition of what was going on coming none to quickly. Pink hair... not blonde. Struggling... Aru loosened his grip and Erika bolted like a scared deer from his grasp. Groggy, Aru sat up, rubbing his head and his eyes, getting a look at his surroundings. "Wh.. Where am I?" He saw Erika, face pinker than her hair, straightening out her uniform. "How long have I been out?" He asked.

"Only about two days." Erika said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Walking to the end table, she thrust the plate of food in Aru's hands. "Eat it." She said. Instead, Aru grabbed her hand and tugged her onto the bed next to him.

"Have you eaten today?" He asked. Her silence was more than an answer for him. Aru scooped some of the vegetables to a side of his plate, motioning for her to eat. Though Erika just stood, grabbing her feather duster. "Sorry, but I have to work." And she began dusting random objects around the room.

With a sigh, Aru chewed on a piece of bacon. He would get her to eat sooner or later and she didn't like meat, anyway. "Work?" He asked between bites. "And nice haircut..." He added sarcastically. "Care to say why you changed it? It didn't look bad before."

"No." Erika said immediately. Her dusting faltered before picking up again. She didn't want him to know. "And I work for the castle now." Change the subject. Good plan.

Setting the plate of barely touched food aside, Aru reached for his cloth and began tying up his hair. "You work for the castle now?" He asked, pulling up the ponytail.

"Yes."

"Why?" It was asked in a tone with mild curiosity, but Aru wouldn't leave until she told him why.

Erika was silent, finding a spec of dust that just wouldn't move from its spot. The samurai quickly pulled on his boots and jacket and went to her side. She flinched as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. "Erika... Tell me why."

Looking away, she wrenched free and scurried to the other side of the room. "I owe the king here a debt..." She whispered, the duster moving slowly. "He..."

Coming up beside her, Aru bent over to look into the smaller girl's face. "Tell me what happened, Erika." He said softly, using the father tone he had practiced with Alice when she was pregnant.

Erika was still dodging him, though, and she spun out of his way, expertly dusting at a row of strange objects. "Eat your breakfast, Aru" She said.

"We're leaving." He said. "Now." The man hurried back to the chair and grabbed his pack. "Come on."

"I told you, I can't." Her voice cracked a bit and she kept her back turned to him. She couldn't. Had to repay the debt. And she didn't want him to see... She fingered the eye, not feeling anything as she touched the nerve deadened skin.

Aru wanted to say screw the debt, but, being a man of honor, he couldn't. "I'm not leaving without you." He said, coming behind her.

"I said I-"

Aru grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Kneeling to her level, he glared at her, temper rising. "Tell me why, then. Now."

"I..." The girl sighed, defeated. "I fought someone. She was a psychopath. And..." Erika slowly revealed what was under her bangs. Aru stifled a gasp, horrified. "I underestimated her and lost. The king and I worked out a deal. I work for him because he saved my life." There. She told him. He should be happy now. He knew and now he could leave. Except, Erika felt herself wrapped around strong arms.

Aru pulled her close, holding tight, giving support. With a sigh, Erika rested her head on his chest.

Damn them... Sending children after psychopaths? What kind of place was this? Did it really deserve saving? Such an act was a disgrace against the nobles living here and the ones running the tournament. Forcing the girl into servitude for something that should be done with no second thought....

"Where is he?" Aru asked.

The question surprised Erika. "Who?"

"The king, Erika. He's going to pay for this." He would pay for it either by letting Erika go or by fighting Aru. A couple of hits should have him down and out. Begging for mercy, at the least. He would get Erika out of this debt. Saving one's life did hold a life debt, yes, but only those desperate or greedy took advantage of it. The king did not seem desperate.So greedy it was and Aru would not have any of it.

"N-no!" Erika said, pushing against him. "It was my fault!"

"No it wasn't!" Aru snapped. Roughly grabbing her shoulder, he shook her. "You did not deserve this! You do not deserve slaving over something that should be done as a kind act!" Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the room, Erika close behind, sputtering out protests.

And then time ran out.

Aru found himself back on the dirt path. Frustration welled up inside of him. Damn him. Damn them. With a scream of rage, Aru slammed his fist into the nearby tree.  It accomplished nothing but to make his hand throb in time with his heart. So he set off toward the village. He would make it to the castle soon. He would have his say.